GBH Openvault

Vietnam: A Television History; America's Mandarin (1954 - 1963); Interview with Edward Geary Lansdale, 1979 [Part 2 of 5]

Part of The Vietnam Collection.

01/31/1979

General Edward Geary Lansdale was an advisor to French forces on special counter-guerrilla operations against the Viet Minh. From 1954 to 1957 he was in Saigon and served as an advisor to the American-backed government of South Vietnam. Lansdale recalls his experience fighting communist groups in the Philippines and credits that success for his being called to duty for Vietnam. Lansdale discusses the differences between fighting in the Philippines and Vietnam. He recalls that the Vietnamese had a strong distrust for foreigners and this resulted in a distrust of the government. However, Lansdale contends that it was not a mistake to support the French in Vietnam during 1950 as the French had been our allies in World War II and the United States had close cultural and economic ties with France. Lansdale also recalls his time as a special advisor to Ngo Dinh Diem. Lansdale explains at length the problems Ngo Dinh Diem had, such as being steeped in a Vietnamese Mandarin tradition that created his disengagement with the people and their needs. Lansdale also gives his opinion on Madame Nhu as a tragic figure who was extremely misunderstood.

Series

Vietnam: A Television History

Program

America's Mandarin (1954 - 1963)

Program Number

103

Title

Interview with Edward Geary Lansdale, 1979 [Part 2 of 5]

Series Description

This 13 part series covers the history of Vietnam from France's colonial control, through the 1945 revolution, to the 1975 U.S. evacuation from Saigon and the years beyond. The series' objective approach permits viewers to form their own conclusions about the war. 101--Roots of a War--Despite cordial relations between American intelligence officers and Communist leader Ho Chi Minh in the turbulent closing months of World War II, French and British hostility to the Vietnamese revolution laid the groundwork for a new war. 102--The First Vietnam War (1946-1954)--The French generals expected to defeat Ho's rag-tag Vietminh guerrillas easily, but after eight years of fighting and $2.5 billion in U.S. aid, the French lost a crucial battle at Dienbienphu--and with it, their Asian empire. 103--America's Mandarin (1954-1963)--To stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, America replaced France in South Vietnam--supporting autocratic President Ngo Dinyh Diem until his own generals turned against him in a coup that brought political chaos to Saigon. 104--LBJ Goes to War (1964-1965)--With Ho Chi Minh determined to reunite Vietnam, Lyndon Baines Johnson determined to prevent it, and South Vietnam on the verge of collapse, the stage was set for massive escalation of the undeclared Vietnam War. 105--America Takes Charge (1965-1967)--In two years, the Johnson Administration's troop build-up dispatched 1.5 million Americans to Vietnam to fight a war they found baffling, tedious, exciting, deadly and unforgettable. 106--America's Enemy (1954-1967)--The Vietnam War as seen from different perspectives: by Vietcong guerrillas and sympathizers; by North Vietnamese leaders; by rank and file; and by American held prisoner in Hanoi. 107--Tet (1968)--The massive enemy offensive at the Lunar New Year decimated the Vietcong and failed to topple the Saigon government, but led to the beginning of America's military withdrawal. 108--Vietnamizing the War (1968-1973)--President Nixon's program of troop pull-outs, stepped-up bombing and huge arms shipments to Saigon changed the war, and left GI's wondering which of them would be the last to die in Vietnam. 109--Cambodia and Laos--Despite technical neutrality, both of Vietnam's smaller neighbors were drawn into the war, suffered massive bombing, and in the case of Cambodia, endured a post-war holocaust of nightmare proportions. 110--Peace is at Hand (1968-1973)--While American and Vietnamese continued to clash in battle, diplomats in Paris argued about making peace, after more than four years reaching an accord that proved to be a preface to further bloodshed. 111--Homefront USA--Americans at home divide over a distant war, clashing in the streets as demonstrations lead to bloodshed, bitterness and increasing doubts about the outcome. 112--The End of the Tunnel (1973-1975)--Through troubled years of controversy and violence, U.S. casualties mounted, victory remained elusive and American opinion moved from general approval to general dissatisfaction with the Vietnam war. 113--Legacies--Vietnam is in the Soviet orbit, poorer than ever, at war on two fronts; America's legacy includes more than one half million Asian refugees, one half million Vietnam veterans and some questions that won't go away. Series release date: 9/1983

Program Description

To stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, America replaced France in South Vietnam--supporting autocratic President Ngo Dinyh Diem until his own generals turned against him in a coup that brought political chaos to Saigon.

Duration

00:48:28

Asset Type

Raw video

Media Type

Video

Subjects

Vietnam--Politics and government

Counterinsurgency

Philippines--History--1946-1986

United States--Politics and government

Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Lansdale, Edward Geary, 1908-1987

Vietnam (Democratic Republic)

Coups d'etat--Vietnam

Vietnam (Republic)

Vietnam--History--1945-1975

Social stratification

United States. Military Assistance Advisory Group, Vietnam

Presidents--Vietnam (Democratic Republic)

United States--History--1945-

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American

Nepotism

Ngo, Dinh Diem, 1901-1963

Presidents--Family

Locations

McLean, VA

Genres

Documentary

Topics

War and Conflict

Creators

Ellison, Richard (Series Producer)

Contributors

Karnow, Stanley (Interviewer)

Lansdale, Edward Geary, 1908-1987 (Interviewee)

Publication Information

WGBH Educational Foundation

Rights Summary

No materials may be re-used without references to appearance releases and WGBH/UMass Boston contract. 2) It is the liability of a production to investigate and re-clear all rights before re-use in any project. Rights Holder: WGBH Educational Foundation

Citation

Chicago: “Vietnam: A Television History; America's Mandarin (1954 - 1963); Interview with Edward Geary Lansdale, 1979 [Part 2 of 5],” 01/31/1979, GBH Archives, accessed November 21, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_776F3E1606514A258878FE12F570CB66.

MLA: “Vietnam: A Television History; America's Mandarin (1954 - 1963); Interview with Edward Geary Lansdale, 1979 [Part 2 of 5].” 01/31/1979. GBH Archives. Web. November 21, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_776F3E1606514A258878FE12F570CB66>.

APA: Vietnam: A Television History; America's Mandarin (1954 - 1963); Interview with Edward Geary Lansdale, 1979 [Part 2 of 5]. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_776F3E1606514A258878FE12F570CB66